The Rockets and Timberwolves are interested in acquiring Paul! Could the 40-year-old veteran return to Houston? He might also mentor Shepard's development.

On December 12th Beijing time, reporter Siegel revealed on a podcast that completing the Chris Paul trade by December 16th is not impossible—both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets have shown interest in the guard.

After Paul and the Clippers officially parted ways, he has yet to be removed from the roster, as the Clippers can trade him to his preferred destination. Reporter Fischer previously reported that the Clippers plan to fully cooperate with Paul and his CAA agency team to find a new team for the veteran point guard. On December 16th Beijing time, dozens of players will become trade-eligible, and Paul is expected to be the top candidate for a trade then.

During the offseason, playing near his hometown of Los Angeles was Paul's top priority, which is why he ultimately chose the Clippers. Before his decision, the Bucks, Knicks, Mavericks, and Suns had all expressed interest. Now, Siegel reports that the Rockets and Timberwolves are the current teams interested in Paul.

Fischer also noted that for this future Hall of Famer, playing time might now be a more crucial factor—he pointed out that Paul's reduced minutes with the Clippers had increasingly frustrated him. So far this season, Paul is averaging only 14.3 minutes per game, contributing 2.6 points and 3.3 assists.

Among the two teams, the Timberwolves recently aimed to strengthen their backcourt and have inquired about guards like Morant and Kobe White, while the Rockets’ starting point guard VanVleet is sidelined with a serious injury. Adding Paul could fill that gap and help Shepard develop faster. Which team will Paul join? The answer might be revealed in a few days.